Horse Racing tips: Our 5 best bets could spell success at Santa Anita on Saturday

Get the inside track on the Californian meeting from our tipster.

Santa Anita

21:02 Shanghai Curly @ 5/2

This is really is as poor a maiden claimer as you are going to see. But, SHANGHAI CURLY has shown a small bit in previous races albeit unplaced in both starts. He has raced in much better fields than this and he is taking a significant drop in class in this race.

It’s safe to say, if he doesn’t win this race he might never win one. Seizetheday Rexy has been placed in three of his five starts and there is no doubt that he is the main danger. I’ll stick with my selection though as he is the one horse open to improvement.

21:33 Paige Runner @ 13/8

Our selection is more than capable of winning at this level, PAIGE RUNNER was returning after a break in latest run and wasn’t disgraced in a race where she was clearly out of her depth. Sas won over this trip in the past and the small field should suit her.

She may gain a bit of confidence in running in a field that lacks quality. Destiny’s Journey has some decent form and may strip fittest with a couple of runs recently. She did make the frame in her latest performance finishing third and could be the main danger to our selection.

SantaAnitagenericMay20a

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22:35 Stir The Pot

STIR THE POT was completely out of his depth latest when running in a big race on dirt. He went off at huge odds, so you can draw a line through that performance. The line of form to judge him on was his previous performance in a race similar to this when he finished second and went off favourite.

If nothing else, the fact he was entered in his latest race suggests trainer Steve Knapp thinks a bit of this lightly raced colt. If he is to back up his trainer’s confidence, he needs to win a race of this standard. Count Alexei represents top yard and could be anything he is the main danger.

23:06 Road Rager @ 9/2

ROAD RAGER has a couple of wins and is consistent at this level. Her latest outing here back in February was a Group 2 contest when finishing last of five. This is a huge drop in class and she has been placed in a couple of races similar to this.

Her trainer’s yard are in good form and that’s another positive. Eternal Endeavour won back-to-back races last year and is an obvious danger to our selection.

23:37 Stela Star (NAP) @ 15/8

The race of the night sees some Grade 3 action. STELA STAR was formerly trained in Ireland by Tom Mullins and landed two big pots most notably the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown when given a brilliant ride by Colin Keane back in October 2019.

She has since changed hands and now with John Sadler ran a cracking race in her latest on debut for new connections in stakes company when just denied on the line. Stela Star will improve a huge amount for that run and will take some stopping in this company on Irish form. Flavien Prat is in the saddle too. There’s no question that she gets the NAP selection. Get on it folks.

* All odds correct at time of posting and are subject to change. 

Santa Anita tips summary:

21:02 Shanghai Curly @ 5/2
21:33 Paige Runner @ 13/8
22:35 Stir The Pot
23:06 Road Rager @ 9/2
23:37 Stela Star (NAP) @ 15/8

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The latest International racing odds are on PP.com now